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Challenge to Shady Cove

A news release from Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden on Sept. 24 says $8 million in Oregon projects to improve communities and preserve natural areas has been approved by the Senate as part of the Interior Appropriations bill. “These funds will create jobs by improving wastewater and clean drinking water systems for local communities, and expand protections for Oregon’s treasured places,”said Sen. Merkley.

Reading through the press release brought us immediately to the issues of water, better yet, the immediate lack thereof, in Shady Cove.

We believe it is well past the time to bicker and sue. We believe the Shady Cove mayor and council, as well as the city administration needs to put together the data including the statistics on wells, loss of water, water being hauled, economic data, so forth (that we are certain they already have) and then invite the two senators to Shady Cove where they can see first-hand the issues. And after meeting with the council and staff they should be invited to attend a town hall meeting the same day wherein they can hear the need from the public and the public can question them on the possibilities for financial help. This certainly is a health and welfare issue and, as such, we believe there should be a way to get the water system funded or to get a goodly amount of the money needed to keep a tax burden minimal.

Merkley is our new senator. We find he is very industrious. Hardly a day passes without one or more press releases on what he is doing for Oregon, or trying to do for the state and its citizens. Wyden is certainly familiar with the area and visits the White City area fairly often but we’ve never seen him in Eagle Point or Shady Cove.

Put down the gauntlet and pursue the need directly. We challenge the Shady Cove decision-makers to go forward in this manner.NL